Footwear Removal Device

ABSTRACT

A footwear removal device includes a planar base having a first end opposite a second end. A notch is disposed in the second end of the planar base that can receive a heel of an article of footwear therein. A frame is affixed to the second end, wherein the frame includes a pair of lateral supports having a cross bar extending therebetween at an upper end of each of the pair of lateral supports. A toe engagement panel is hingedly affixed to a lower side of the cross bar, wherein a cutout is disposed in a distal end of the toe engagement panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/841,516 filed on May 1, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear removal tools. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a footwear removal brace configured to engage an article of footwear to allow a user to remove the footwear in a hands-free manner.

Many individuals wear styles of footwear, such as leather boots, which can be difficult to remove. Additionally, many individuals suffer from limited mobility, which prevents the user from bending or otherwise contorting in the manner required to remove footwear. Struggling to remove footwear in such conditions risks injury as the individual must strain themselves to remove the footwear. Oftentimes, these individuals must sit down or recline in order to remove the footwear with minimal strain. However, even when seated or reclining, the user may still struggle to remove such footwear. Therefore, a device that allows a user to easily and efficiently remove footwear while in a standing position is desired. As such, users with limited mobility can easily and efficiently remove their footwear.

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing footwear removal devices. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of footwear removal devices now present in the known art, the present invention provides a footwear removal device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user, particularly those with limited mobility, when removing footwear while minimizing exertion.

The present device comprises a planar base having a first end opposite a second end. A notch is disposed in the second end of the planar base configured to engage a heel of an article of footwear therein. A frame is affixed to the second end, wherein the frame comprises a pair of lateral supports having a cross bar extending therebetween at an upper end of each of the pair of lateral supports. A toe engagement panel is hingedly affixed to a lower side of the cross bar and includes a cutout disposed in a distal end of the toe engagement panel. In some embodiments, the planar base is angled such that the second end is disposed at a greater height than the first end. In such embodiments, a foot support disposed on a lower surface of the planar base maintains an angled position of the planar base. In some embodiments, a height of the planar base is adjustable via a plurality of apertures disposed along the pair of lateral supports, such that the user can selectively raise and lower the second end of the planar base to a desired angle. In this manner, the user can adjust the angle of the planar base for maximal comfort.

In some embodiments, a frictional strip is affixed along an exterior surface of the notch, whereas in another embodiment, the frictional strip is affixed along an exterior surface of the cutout. In this manner, each of the notch and cutout can more securely frictionally engage a footwear therein further aiding in removal thereof. The frictional strip comprises a high-friction material, including, but not limited to, leather, rubber, silicon, or the like. In another embodiment, a depth of the notch is greater than a depth of the cutout, such that the heel of the footwear is fully encircled thereby, providing additional leverage for removing the footwear. In other embodiments, an entirety of the notch is disposed beyond the pair of lateral supports, ensuring that the toe engagement panel is angled away from the pair of lateral supports when a footwear is placed within the notch, such that a weight of the toe engagement panel against the toe of the footwear provides additional pressure against the notch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device.

FIG. 2A shows a side view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in an elevated position.

FIG. 2B shows a side view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in a lowered position.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in use.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in a folded position.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the footwear removal device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the footwear removal device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device. The footwear removal device 11 includes a planar base 12 having a first end (as shown in FIG. 2A, 13) disposed opposite a second end 14. In some embodiments, an upper surface of the planar base 12 comprises a non-slip material thereon. A notch 15 is disposed in the second end 14, wherein the notch 15 is configured to receive a heel of an article of footwear therein (as shown in FIG. 3), such as a boot, sneaker, or the like. The notch 15 provides an anchor point for the user to insert the heel of the article of footwear, such that the user can maneuver their foot out of the article of footwear by an application of torque. In this manner, the user can remove the article of footwear without contorting or bending their body, thereby providing convenience for users with limited mobility. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch 15 further comprises a frictional strip 24 disposed along an exterior surface thereof, wherein the frictional strip 24 is configured to frictionally engage the heel of the article of footwear thereagainst. In this manner, the article of footwear is stabilized, ensuring that the article of footwear remains stationary and does not slip while the user removes the footwear. The frictional strip 24 comprises a material having a high coefficient of friction, such as a coefficient of friction greater than one, such that the article of footwear is frictionally engaged thereagainst. In such embodiments, the frictional strip 24 can comprise a variety of materials, such as, but not limited to, leather, rubber, and silicon.

A frame 16 is affixed to the planar base 12 at the second end 14 thereof. The frame 16 comprises a pair of lateral supports 17 disposed on opposing sides of the planar base 12, wherein a crossbar 18 extends therebetween. The crossbar 18 extends between the pair of lateral supports 17 at an upper end 19 thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, a lower crossbar is disposed between a lower end of each of the pair of lateral supports 17 to provide additional stability to the frame 16. A toe engagement panel 20 is pivotally secured to a lower side 21 of the crossbar 18, such that the toe engagement panel 20 is suspended above the second end 14 of the planar base 12. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the pair of lateral supports 17 comprise a height greater than that of the toe engagement panel 20 to allow the toe engagement panel 20 to freely pivot above the planar base 12. In this manner, the toe engagement panel 20 is configured to pivot away from the first end of the planar base 12, such that a distal end 23 of the toe engagement panel 20 engages a toe portion of the article of footwear.

The weight of the toe engagement panel 20 against a front portion of the article of footwear provides a driving force to push the article of footwear into the notch 15, thereby further securing the heel of the article of footwear therein. In the shown embodiment, the distal end 23 of the toe engagement panel 20 further comprises a cutout 22 therein, wherein the cutout 22 is dimensioned to conform to the toe portion of an article of footwear. In this way, the cutout 22 provides an even pressure across the toe portion of the article of footwear, such that comfort of the user during footwear removal is maximized. In some embodiments, the cutout 22 further comprises a frictional strip similar to that shown disposed in the notch 15, wherein the frictional strip is configured to frictionally engage the toe portion of the article of footwear therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 28, there is shown a side view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in an elevated position and a side view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in a lowered position, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, a depth of the notch 15 is greater than that of the cutout. In this way, the heel of the article of footwear is ensured to fully engage within the notch 15 such that the footwear is restrained therein, minimizing the amount of rotation of the footwear. This allows the user to more readily isolate their foot from the article of footwear for efficient footwear removal. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch 15 is disposed entirely between the second end 14 and the pair of lateral supports 17. In this manner, the toe engagement panel is forced to pivot outwards to ensure that additional force is applied against the toe portion of the article of footwear to further drive the heel of the footwear into the notch 15.

In some embodiments, the planar base 12 is permanently affixed to the frame at an angle relative to a ground surface, such as shown in FIG. 2A. However, in the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the second end 14 of the planar base 12 is adjustable in height relative to the first end 13, such that the user can selectively adjust the angle of the planar base 12 in order to maximize comfort and footwear engagement during use. In the illustrated embodiments, a plurality of apertures 26 are disposed through at least one of the pair of lateral supports 17 such that a fastener 27 can be inserted therethrough to retain the second end 14 of the planar base 12 at a desired height. The plurality of apertures 26 can be disposed at regular intervals to allow a user to adjust the relative height of the planar base 12. In some embodiments, the fastener 27 is inserted into a complementary channel disposed through the planar base 12, however, in alternate embodiments, the second end 14 rests upon the fastener 27 extending through the lateral support 17.

The fastener 27 can comprise threading thereon configured to engage with the plurality of apertures 26. In the shown embodiment, the fastener 27 further comprises a knob head configured to provide a gripping surface to the user. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2A, the planar base 12 is disposed at an elevated position, such that the second end 14 is at a greater height than that of the first end 13, whereas in the shown embodiment of the FIG. 2, the planar base 12 is in a lowered position, such that the planar base 12 is disposed parallel to the ground surface. As such, when in the elevated position, the combination of the frictional strip 24 and the angle of the planar base 12 can further isolate an article of footwear from a user's foot, allowing the user to remove their foot from the footwear with minimal effort.

In the illustrated embodiment, a foot support 25 is disposed along a lower surface of the planar base 12, wherein the foot support 25 is configured to provide structural support to the planar base 12 such that the planar base 12 can be maintained at a desired angle. In some embodiments, the foot support 25 is permanently affixed to the lower surface of the planar base 12. In alternate embodiments, the foot support 25 is slidably disposed along the planar base 12, such that the foot support 25 is adjustable to provide support to the planar base 12 at a variety of heights. As shown in FIG. 2B, the foot support 25 can slide towards the second end 14 to allow the planar base 12 to rest parallel to the ground surface when in the lowered position.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in use. In one use, the planar base 12 can be adjusted to a desired height to maximize comfort of the user and provide a more advantageous angle of attack to remove an article of footwear 28. The user can then insert the heel 29 of the footwear 28 into the notch 15. As the footwear 28 is inserted beyond the pair of lateral supports, the toe engagement member 20 pivots outward such that the cutout 22 rests against a toe portion 30 of the footwear 28. The toe engagement member 20 can then further press the footwear 28 into the notch 15 to isolate the footwear 28 from the user's foot, such that the footwear 28 is maintained in a stationary position as the user's foot is maneuvered. The user can then twist and maneuver their foot out of the footwear 28 which is held stationary by the present device without requiring the user to bend over. In this manner, the footwear removal device can aid in removing footwear for users having limited mobility.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear removal device in a folded position. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 12 is pivotally secured to the pair of lateral supports at the second end 14, such that the base 12 is selectively movable between a deployed position and a folded position. When in the folded position, the first end 13 of the base 12 abuts the crossbar 18, such that the footwear removal device defines a decreased form factor to aid in storage and portability thereof. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, the first end 13 is beveled to allow a lower surface thereof to rest flush against a ground surface when in the deployed position. In this manner, the base 12 can stably rest at an angled position, such that the second end 14 is disposed at a greater height than the first end 13. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the first end 13 further comprises a frictional engagement member 32 disposed on the lower surface thereof, such that the frictional engagement member 32 frictionally engages the ground surface when the base 12 is in the deployed position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the footwear removal device. In the shown embodiment, the footwear removal device is shown in the deployed position. In this embodiment, the base 12 comprises a tapered shape, such that the second end comprises a greater width than that of the first end. In this way, the weight of the base 12 is minimized, allowing the device to be more readily transported. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the toe engagement panel 20 is pivotally secured to the pair of lateral support members 17 rather than the crossbar as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Furthermore, a weighted element 31 is disposed on the toe engagement panel 20 configured to increase pressure applied to the toe portion of the footwear, further ensuring that the article of footwear is engaged within the notch of the base 12. In the shown embodiment, the weighted element 31 comprises a horseshoe dimensioned to align with the distal end of the toe engagement panel 20, however, in alternate embodiments, other objects having similar weight properties are contemplated.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A footwear removal device, comprising: a planar base having a first end opposite a second end; a notch disposed in the second end of the planar base configured to engage a heel of an article of footwear therein; a frame affixed to the second end, wherein the frame comprises a pair of lateral supports having a cross bar extending therebetween at an upper end of each of the pair of lateral supports; a toe engagement panel hingedly affixed to a lower side of the cross bar; wherein a cutout is disposed in a distal end of the toe engagement panel.
 2. The footwear removal device of claim 1, further comprising a frictional strip affixed along an exterior surface of the notch.
 3. The footwear removal device of claim 1, further comprising a frictional strip affixed along an exterior surface of the cutout.
 4. The footwear removal device of claim 2, wherein the frictional strip comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: leather, rubber, and silicon.
 5. The footwear removal device of claim 3, wherein the frictional strip comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: leather, rubber, and silicon.
 6. The footwear removal device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the planar base is disposed at a height less than that of the second end.
 7. The footwear removal device of claim 6, further comprising a foot support disposed on a lower surface of the planar base.
 8. The footwear removal device of claim 1, wherein a depth of the notch is greater than a depth of the cutout.
 9. The footwear removal device of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the notch is disposed beyond the pair of lateral supports.
 10. A footwear removal device, comprising: a planar base having a first end opposite a second end; a notch disposed in the second end of the planar base configured to engage a heel of a footwear therein; a frame affixed to the second end, wherein the frame comprises a pair of lateral supports having a cross bar extending therebetween at an upper end of each of the pair of lateral supports; a plurality of apertures disposed through the pair of lateral supports configured to receive a fastener therethrough; wherein a height of the second end is adjustable via securing the second end to the pair of lateral supports along the plurality of apertures with the fastener; a toe engagement panel hingedly affixed to a lower side of the cross bar; wherein a cutout is disposed in a distal end of the toe engagement panel.
 11. The footwear removal device of claim 10, further comprising a frictional strip affixed along an exterior surface of the notch.
 12. The footwear removal device of claim 10, further comprising a frictional strip affixed along an exterior surface of the cutout.
 13. The footwear removal device of claim 12, wherein the frictional strip comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: leather, rubber, and silicon.
 14. The footwear removal device of claim 13, wherein the frictional strip comprises a material selected from a group consisting of: leather, rubber, and silicon.
 15. The footwear removal device of claim 10, wherein the first end of the planar base is disposed at a height less than that of the second end.
 16. The footwear removal device of claim 15, further comprising a foot support disposed on a lower surface of the planar base.
 17. The footwear removal device of claim 10, wherein a depth of the notch is greater than a depth of the cutout.
 18. The footwear removal device of claim 10, wherein an entirety of the notch is disposed beyond the pair of lateral supports. 